ss its depth was
considerable, and within its grasp the most powerful swimmer would be
helpless.

Peering into the gloom, the youth saw the top of the next rock which was
used as a stepping-stone by other visitors. If he were mistaken it would
be bad for him, but, with only a few minutes' pause, he gathered his
muscles and proved he was right. He was now fairly within the canyon and
still standing on solid support, while there had been no trouble to
maintain his foothold from the moment he made the first leap.

His success thus far gave him renewed courage.

"What one person has done another can do," was his thought. "Fred and I
agreed that there is a good deal of risk in this, but if I had a little
more light nothing could be easier. These rocks seem to be placed at the
right intervals, and so long as I can locate them I'll go ahead."

The belief of Jack was that somewhere in the side of the canyon was a
cave in which his comrade was held captive. The sight that the two boys
had obtained of Hank Hazletine, when he disappeared so suddenly from
sight, lent strength to the theory. If the youth was right, the time of
his attempt to ascend the gorge, with the exception of the darkness,
could not have been more favorable, for Motoza was absent, and it was
hardly to be supposed that his place had been taken by Tozer or anyone
else. What a happy meeting it would be if the elder could find the
younger!

The natural reasoning was that, if one boy was able to ascend the canyon
to where the other was imprisoned, the latter ought to be able to leave
his prison when the gaoler was absent. Jack's explanation was probably
the right one--either that Fred did not know how readily the thing could
be done, or Jack was soon to find himself unable to complete his
journey.

Spurred on by the hope of doing so much for the one he loved, Jack
paused only long enough to locate the next rock, when he again leaped
with the easy strength and grace that were natural to him. His success
did not render him careless. He was almost in utter darkness, and was
surprised that the way proved so easy. By leaning forward and peering
into the gloom he could generally distinguish the most shadowy outlines
of the nearest part of the support, which, had it been slightly further
removed, would have been altogether beyond his reach.

It was unreasonable to expect the favorable conditions to continue, and
they did not. The time came very soon when, after one